Some Problems.

The first night I arrived, we were discussing food/our meals (I get three dinners a week with my homestay mother), and it came up that on my form I was a vegetarian. When we were at the group dinner, the other homestay mom said, essentially, she was glad that her homestay student didn't have "that problem". Now, in Scottsdale and in Boston there are not only thousands of pseudo vegetarian options (I do eat chicken, turkey, and fish), but also many of my friends share the same eating habits as I do. Today at lunch they had the hardest time figuring out who the "vegetarians" were- some are like me and some are full fledged veggies - and couldn't figure out what to serve us. Our food came like 10 minutes after everyone else's. It was interesting to see the French servers balk at the word "vegetarien", like it was some sort of taboo. They're big on ham here.

But the events of today: Marissa and I got VERY lost on our way to the FIAP - an international center - this morning. We arrived very late, wet, and cold. It gets very frustrating not knowing where you are and constantly following other's directions, although already I know some simple things (like which direction to go on the 13, our Metro Line, and how to get home). Today was a placement test, cultural information, information on our classes / how to take classes outside of IES, and information on our trips. Yesterday we covered safety, how to get around, how to get a cell phone (I officially have a European number!), and hundreds of other details. It was a lot of talking at us rather than talking to us, lots of lectures in very rapid French. I'm mentally exhausted because it takes a lot of cognitive effort to understand even simple sentences. Our excursions - we get two included in our tuition - look very cool. Our options are Giverny, Reims, Chantilly, Normandie, Fontainbleau, and Vaux-le-Vicomte. I'm hoping to get Giverny and Normandie, but for Normandie there's a sort of an essay contest to see which 35 students get to go. It's a two day trip to a very popular location, so I think that's why it's very competitive. Today was a long day full of information (just like yesterday, and just like tomorrow), but I know it will get easier like when we settle into classes and some sort of routine.

EDIT: Amazing how a little alone time, a great meal, and a French person telling you you speak good French can drastically affect your mood. A little movie night tonight and I think I'll feel better!